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Auto alternatives for the 21st centuryFri, 09 Dec 2016 20:46:09 +0000en-UShourly1http://wordpress.org/?v=4.2.47 Hybrid Cars That Pay Back In Less Than 3 Yearshttp://www.hybridcars.com/7-hybrid-cars-that-pay-back-in-less-than-3-years/
http://www.hybridcars.com/7-hybrid-cars-that-pay-back-in-less-than-3-years/#commentsWed, 07 Dec 2016 16:28:59 +0000http://www.hybridcars.com/?p=528385While some alternative energy cars have been criticized for costing inordinately more than conventional cars, a number of hybrid cars cannot be so easily pigeonholed. No, there are actually seven U.S. models that stand to pay their owners back in under three years for the price premium charged for their more-advanced powertrains – even without […]

]]>While some alternative energy cars have been criticized for costing inordinately more than conventional cars, a number of hybrid cars cannot be so easily pigeonholed.

No, there are actually seven U.S. models that stand to pay their owners back in under three years for the price premium charged for their more-advanced powertrains – even without government subsidies that plug-in cars rely upon.

These estimates are not ours, but rather the federal government’s. As a gauge for what consumers might expect if they opt to go with a hybrid model, the U.S. EPA compares same-brand hybrid and non-hybrid vehicles for as close to an apple-to-apple matchup as possible.

The EPA assumes 15,000 miles driven annually, regular gas for $2.16 per gallon, premium for $2.66, and a mix of 55 percent city and 45 percent highway driving. Of course these are idealized numbers, so your situation may be different, but if variables are different for you, that would not undo the relative comparison between hybrid and non-hybrid as they would both be equally affected.

The 37-mpg 2016 Kia Optima Hybrid would have been eighth, but takes exactly 3.0 years to pay back. Hybrids promise fuel consumption and emissions reductions and are a hedge against rising fuel prices.

Further, given people are holding onto cars for upwards of a dozen years, the prospect of getting a car that saves money, and then keeps paying back after the break-even point is one good indicator of whether a hybrid would be a wise choice.

As you’d expect, all the cars on the list are comparable to conventionally powered alternatives in terms of drivability, utility, and comfort, meaning potential drawbacks are otherwise minimal if there are any at all.

So, without further adieu, following are the best deals in America by federal reckoning.

2016 Toyota Avalon Hybrid Limited – 2.8 Years

The Avalon Hybrid is the brand’s top of the range sedan edging to the point of being nearly a Lexus with Toyota badge, and next to the non-hybrid Avalon, it is a relative fuel-saving value.

This system is best as a helper for on-road traction duties, sensing slip and turning on as needed.

The EPA figures the hybrid saves $283 per year over the non-hybrid

2016 Toyota Prius Two – 2.1 Years

Your tax dollars at work have made for an oddball lineup, as the feds compare the Prius Two to the closest thing they could think of – a conventional Camry LE.

Of course this is an exception to the apple-to-apple mandate as the Prius is quite unique. Soon enough there will be a 58-mpg Hyundai Ioniq Hybrid which is by far a closer match-up, but the EPA’s gauge is between same-make cars.

Here also, the power is greater in the V6, but the hybrid is no slouch, and worth checking out.

The price difference is $1,305 more, and the EPA figures the hybrid saves $621 per year over the non-hybrid

2016 Ford Fusion Hybrid Titanium – 0.4 Years

2017 model pictured.

This is this year’s model and there is actually an updated 2017 model for sale now, but for your info, the 2016 Hybrid costs just $160 more than the non-hybrid four-cylinder Fusion FWD Titanium and promises 41 mpg versus 26, and what’s not to like?

Filed in the encyclopedia under “no brainer” the hybrid 2016 Fusion pays back in 4.8 months and is estimated to save $456 in fuel annually – and the 2017 looks even better.

]]>http://www.hybridcars.com/7-hybrid-cars-that-pay-back-in-less-than-3-years/feed/0Maserati Preparing All-Electric Sports Carhttp://www.hybridcars.com/maserati-preparing-all-electric-sports-car/
http://www.hybridcars.com/maserati-preparing-all-electric-sports-car/#commentsTue, 29 Nov 2016 05:05:48 +0000http://www.hybridcars.com/?p=524633A Maserati executive has confirmed that the Italian brand will be build an electric version of its upcoming Alfieri sports car. Maserati’s region manager for Europe, Peter Denton, confirmed the news to just-auto, saying that an all-electric Alfieri should arrive around 2020. The Alfieri will be a full on sports car, aimed at competing with […]

]]>A Maserati executive has confirmed that the Italian brand will be build an electric version of its upcoming Alfieri sports car.

Maserati’s region manager for Europe, Peter Denton, confirmed the news to just-auto, saying that an all-electric Alfieri should arrive around 2020. The Alfieri will be a full on sports car, aimed at competing with the Porsche 911 and the Jaguar F-Type. When the electric version turns up, it will be taking on the likes of the Porsche Mission E.

“Alfieri will be bigger than Boxster and Cayman,” said Denton. “It is being designed as a competitor to the 911 but it will be a larger car. More the size of a Jaguar F-TYPE,” he said. The standard car will also be priced in the range of the F-Type as well, though expect the electric version to cost even more.

Maserati will skip the plug-in hybrid option altogether and move straight ahead with a fully electric version, as Maserati expects that tax breaks on plug-in vehicles will come to an end.

An all-new Maserati GranTurismo will be released before the Alfieri, sometime in the next two years.

]]>http://www.hybridcars.com/maserati-preparing-all-electric-sports-car/feed/02017 Chevy Bolt’s Trophy Case Is Filling Uphttp://www.hybridcars.com/2017-chevy-bolts-trophy-case-is-filling-up/
http://www.hybridcars.com/2017-chevy-bolts-trophy-case-is-filling-up/#commentsWed, 23 Nov 2016 14:31:25 +0000http://www.hybridcars.com/?p=523625The 2017 Chevy Bolt EV has not even had its first customer delivery yet but has already accrued some of the highest honors that can be bestowed on a car. Having received at least eight major awards, and counting, the $30,000 after federal subsidy Bolt EV cuts by more than half what an electric car […]

]]>The 2017 Chevy Bolt EV has not even had its first customer delivery yet but has already accrued some of the highest honors that can be bestowed on a car.

Having received at least eight major awards, and counting, the $30,000 after federal subsidy Bolt EV cuts by more than half what an electric car with 238 miles range would have cost just last year.

Granted, it’s not as sleek and fast as a Tesla Model S, but the front-wheel drive compact crossover represents a new price-for-range benchmark that other automakers, including Tesla, Nissan, VW Group, and more intend to follow.

So, while customers have not vetted the car yet, just the stat sheet has been enough to garner praise from the media – who also have been getting test drives the past several months to further convince them – so don’t be surprised if more awards come.

The same happened incidentally for the Chevy Volt, which between 2010 and 2014 racked up at least 40 awards for its groundbreaking technology, and more awards have come for the second-generation 2016 Volt since.

Naturally, as with any other product, the Volt – and the Bolt – have had and will continue to have those who do not speak well of them. Aside from the halo effect of an ever-filling trophy case, some buyers will find things to fault, and that’s just the facts of life.

One potential complaint we have already heard – not with the car itself – is its availability. First buyers expect the Bolt in California and Oregon over the next several weeks, but the rest of the country will need more patience. GM has not specified a delivery schedule for other markets, but has said rollout will be next year into the spring for shoppers in other states.

In any event, here’s a list of some of the more notable awards, as double checked by Chevrolet, who contributed two to a list we sent over to see if we’d missed any.

Car and Driver – 10Best Cars

The popular car mag selected the Bolt as one of its 10Best Cars for 2017, noting it is a significant improvement over the late ‘90s GM EV1, but still shy of transport promised by the Jetsons. In terms of what people can actually get today, it is a standout performer, says C&D.

The Chevrolet Bolt touches down in a different world, one that is edging toward the point where EVs start to make sense to people other than the sort of folk who campaign against cruelty to fruit. The Bolt isn’t an excuse-free electric car, but it earns its place on the 10Best list by being the one that comes closest to rebutting two of the biggest criticisms that have been levied against the genre: expense and range.

Car Connection – Best EV to Buy, Best Hatchback to Buy 2017

Respect on a high order was given by The Car Connection which named the Bolt not just the best EV to buy, but also the best hatchback to buy which would include gas-powered models.

The Chevrolet Bolt EV handily wins The Car Connection’s Best Electric Car to Buy 2017. It rendered all other affordable electric vehicles outdated and nearly obsolete the minute it was unveiled.
That’s what happens in the tech world, which is just what the auto industry is starting to feel like these days. …But what may be most remarkable about the Bolt EV is that it’s a normal car. That might not seem ground-breaking, but in the world of electric vehicles it moves the bar far higher than anyone else.
Sure, it’s a little quirky-looking outside, but it has more in common with upmarket crossovers like the Lexus RX than with economy cars. Inside, there’s good room for four adults and their luggage. Good space utilization makes the Bolt EV feel even roomier than it actually is, although its 94.4 cubic feet of interior volume is impressive on its own. …

Green Car Reports – Best New Car to Buy

Green Car Reports, a sister site to The Car Connection, likewise found much to like about the Bolt.

As did others, it noted its range-for-dollar while observing the Bolt is a well-executed total package.

The all-electric Bolt EV is EPA-rated at 238 miles of range, at a base price of $37,495.
That’s the range of a Tesla, for roughly half the price. Pretty remarkable less than five years after the first Tesla Model S rolled off the lines, no?
The Bolt EV is a five-seat, five-door hatchback, with the footprint of a compact car but more interior volume (by a fraction of a cubic foot) than that Model S.
On the basics, the Bolt EV succeeds. The tall, upright body holds four adults comfortably. The shape may not be to everyone’s taste, but the compact dimensions make it easier to park than that Model S.
The interior is bright and airy, with a low dash and crisp, high-resolution graphics with intuitive controls.
The floor is flat, because the battery pack sits under the floorpan and the rear seat, with the electric motor up front powering the front wheels.
The most important thing about the Bolt EV, though, is how far you can go on a single charge. The EPA rates its range at 238 miles. Chevy promised 200 miles, and overdelivered.

Green Car Journal – Green Car of the Year

A quarterly publication run by founder and editor Ron Cogan, the magazine’s Green Car of the Year award since 2006 has selected all sorts of technology for its award. These include hybrids, diesels, a natural gas car, and the Bolt’s predecessor, the extended-range Volt – for both first and second generations – and others.

This year Cogan summed up his thoughts on the new EV from Chevrolet.

“The new electric Bolt is a breakthrough vehicle,” said Cogan. “I have been covering this for 20 years and ‘range anxiety’ has always been an issue. Suddenly, the Bolt at 238 miles of all electric driving…this car becomes a game changer.”

Motor Trend – Car of the Year

Two numbers—238 and 29,995—are why. The first is the number of miles the EPA has certified the Bolt EV will travel on a full charge. The second is the price, in dollars, of the Bolt EV, after allowing for a $7,500 federal tax rebate. By offering that range at that price, the Bolt EV has made just about every other electric vehicle on sale obsolete. “Simply put, it’s twice the car for half the price of a BMW i3,” guest judge Chris Theodore said. “A better car, better package, much better handling, with twice the range.”
Even the folks at Tesla, the electric vehicle masters of the universe, have been put on notice: The Bolt EV sets a benchmark for value and performance they’ll have to work overtime to match. “This is a direct challenge for Tesla to make the Model 3 anything near the Bolt EV for the same price,” executive editor Mark Rechtin said. “Chevrolet has made affordable long-range electric transportation available to the masses. Elon Musk should be afraid. Very, very afraid.”

AutoGuide Reader’s Choice

HybridCars.com’s sister publication this year asked its readers what the Green Car of the Year ought to be, and the answer was the Bolt.

The five-door hatchback features an all-electric powertrain with a total output of 200 horsepower and 266 pound-feet of torque while returning a range of 238 miles. The Chevrolet Bolt is heading to California and Oregon first, with a starting price of $37,495. The American automaker did confirm that the Bolt will eventually head to all 50 states as it looks to get a jump on the upcoming Tesla Model 3 as an affordable EV offering over 200 miles of all-electric driving on a single charge.
“The Bolt left a strong first impression and felt very refined,” AutoGuide.com‘s Sami Haj-Assaad said in his review. “It will be interesting to see if owners will be able to push the range over 200 miles, but as it stands, the Bolt will represent a huge move forward for affordable and practical electric vehicles.”

Time Magazine’s 25 Best Inventions of 2016

Not a car-only award, Time Magazine included the Bolt along with 25 other inventions including the levitating lightbulb, Solar City’s new roof tile solar panels, and tires that spin in every direction by Goodyear.

As for the Bolt, it’s a “crown pleasing electric car,” says the pub which rounds up the price from $37,495 to an even $40,000 (assuming taxes, that may be about right, and who’s counting $2,500 here or there anyway?)

The endorsement otherwise is a welcome one for Chevrolet, and this is one of the two awards it brought to our attention.

For most buyers, electric vehicles fall into two camps: too expensive (think the $66,000 Tesla Model S) and too limited (the Nissan Leaf gets just 100 miles per charge). General Motors aims to bridge that gap with the Chevrolet Bolt, which touts crowd-­pleasing features, like more than 200 miles of driving on a single charge, at a relatively low cost.

Popular Science 10 Greatest Automotive Innovations Of 2016

Along with a driveable supercar – the McLaren 570S – and Koenigsegg FreeValve engine technology, and the Airbus APWorks Light Rider 3D printed motorcycle, came the Chevy Bolt.

Another mainstream award Chevrolet was happy to let us know about, the magazine summed up what most others have said about why the Bolt was a standout this year.

Affordable electric vehicles have struggled to break the 200-mile-range barrier. General Motors (no, not Tesla) is getting there first. It all comes down to the battery: The Bolt’s 288-cell, 60-kilowatt-hour lithium-ion powerhouse is heavy in nickel, which boosts energy density and extends range to 238 miles. Liberal use of aluminum in the hood, doors, tailgate, and suspension keep the car from getting weighed down. $37,495

]]>http://www.hybridcars.com/2017-chevy-bolts-trophy-case-is-filling-up/feed/0Is Toyota Rethinking Its Pro-Fuel Cell / Anti-Battery Electric Car Stance?http://www.hybridcars.com/is-toyota-rethinking-its-pro-fuel-cell-anti-battery-electric-car-stance/
http://www.hybridcars.com/is-toyota-rethinking-its-pro-fuel-cell-anti-battery-electric-car-stance/#commentsTue, 22 Nov 2016 00:43:05 +0000http://www.hybridcars.com/?p=522353Reports in recent weeks have indicated Toyota may be revising its stance against battery electric vehicles as it prepares for “mass producing” it first long-range EV by the end of this decade. Word of that 186-plus mile range electric car in time for the 2020 Tokyo Olympics was reported Nov. 7 by Japan’s Nikkei newspaper, […]

]]>Reports in recent weeks have indicated Toyota may be revising its stance against battery electric vehicles as it prepares for “mass producing” it first long-range EV by the end of this decade.

Word of that 186-plus mile range electric car in time for the 2020 Tokyo Olympics was reported Nov. 7 by Japan’s Nikkei newspaper, which described “a full-scale entry into the electric vehicle market.”

On Nov. 17, Toyota corporate followed up with announcement of an in-house venture company for EV development.

Like pieces of a puzzle filling an incomplete picture, these and other news tidbits have led EV fans to hope it is only a matter of time before the company that gave the world the Prius reverses a position of being pro-fuel cell while resisting battery electric technology.

“Better late than never,” said more than one of numerous commenters interpreting the winds ahead.

Tone Deaf To Market and Technology?

Last decade as Toyota basked in a green halo with its globally dominant hybrid technology, it did show a FT-EV battery electric concept in 2009 based on the Scion iQ, but disappointment overtook battery electric advocates when it killed that project in 2012.

Despite rival Nissan charging ahead with battery electrics, in September 2012 no less than the “father of the Prius,” Takeshi Uchiyamada, Toyota’s vice chairman and the engineer said battery electric vehicles were not ready for prime time.

Toyota FT-EV II.

He told reporters Toyota “had misread the market and the ability of still-emerging battery technology to meet consumer demands.”

Instead – to the dismay of those who admire what Nissan is doing, not to mention Tesla, and others – Toyota said it would pioneer fuel cell vehicles as these it saw as having better long-term potential, while admitting it could be 10-15 years before they reached market maturity.

Mirai FCV.

From the carrier of the torch for cars that use batteries and motors, this was a huge letdown, and some EV fans have gone so far in chastising Toyota as to say they won’t buy its products any more for missing a pivotal time in the EV’s development.

But as can be the case for public images which are tarnished, then revived, news this month of EV development has given cautious optimism that Toyota is indeed ready to scrap the FCV plan.

Never Said Never to EVs

Despite the news du jour of pending EVs, Toyota has never said it would never build EVs, and we’ve reported for three years this was the case.

It has alternately hinted, while EVs are on the backburner, it is working on advanced beyond-lithium-ion technology, including solid state batteries, and in January 2013 it deepened ties with BMW to co-develop lithium air batteries along with fuel cell tech.

RAV4 EV – powered by Tesla – $49,800. Only 2,600 were produced.

The implication was ultimately the option was still there if at some time in the future the market and technology for battery electric and plug-in hybrids met Toyota’s criteria.

Toyota also hinted earlier this decade it did not want to chase such a small market as other companies were pioneering.

The company has also cited safety concerns with batteries, but now – like everyone else – is yielding to realities and intending to use now lower cost lithium-ion batteries, in this case from Panasonic, which also supplies Tesla.

The automaker has also reportedly considered building its own batteries for what may be a product assortment next decade that includes a few small cars with range over 215 miles and built on the Toyota New Global Architecture (TNGA) platform used by the 2016 Prius.

As for the safety concern, Koji Toyoshima, chief engineer for the Prius, told Reuters in late October the automaker has made strides with tech in its just-launching Prius Prime plug-in hybrid and lessons learned there can apply to pure EVs.

For all the credit Nissan gets for the Leaf, it is yet a big fish in a small pond. Its volumes and profitability have made Toyota sit back, and let it and others toil ahead in developing the EV market.

“It’s a tall order to develop a lithium-ion car battery which can perform reliably and safely for 10 years, or over hundreds of thousands of kilometers,” he said “We have double braced and triple braced our battery pack to make sure they’re fail-safe … It’s all about safety, safety, safety.”

Being a conservative company that likes to develop reliable tech, then reap the rewards over a long period of time, the company indicates it’s feeling better about software managing li-ion batteries.

“Our control system can identify even slight signs of a potential short-circuit in individual cells, and will either prevent it from spreading or shut down the entire battery,” said Hiroaki Takeuchi, a senior Toyota engineer involved in the Prime’s development.

Ready To Abandon FCV Plans?

So Has Toyota changed its stance on EVs? And, is it ready to admit it was wrong about fuel cell vehicles?

It says no.

Just a day after the Nikkei’s report set hopeful ripples through the green car world, Toyota’s Executive Vice President Takahiko Ijichi echoed what other top execs have said in setting the record straight.

“If you ask the question — What is the ultimate environmentally friendly vehicle? — we’ll say it will be fuel cell vehicles. And our idea has not changed,” Ijichi said.

So why is it gearing up for EVs?

As we have also reported, Toyota is, like every other legacy car maker turning to EVs, ultimately being compelled by regulatory realities. Even though it has said it sees limits relegating EVs as best for around-town uses, and not as versatile as hybrids and FCVs – assuming eventual fueling infrastructure – it’s now adding EVs to its product assortment.

Ijichi said as a full-line automaker, Toyota must develop all alternative drivetrains, including battery-powered electric vehicles, and the world’s largest EV market is influencing its decision.

Earlier this year, on the eve of the Beijing auto show, head of Toyota’s China operations, Hiroji Onishi, had said China’s regulations will make it harder for Toyota to reach a sales goal of 2 million vehicles in China by around 2025.

A statement issued by Toyota last week reiterated this view.

“Differing energy and infrastructure issues around the world and the rapid strengthening of regulations aimed at increasing the use of zero-emission vehicles have heightened the need for product lineups that can respond to various situations,” Toyota said.

So, as Toyota looks to develop plug-in cars also for Japan and California, it is saying this is business as usual as it flexes a bit away from its predetermined course to prove FCVs are the future.

“Based on its thinking to provide the right vehicle at the right place at the right time, TMC has long taken a multi-angled approach to introducing environment-friendly vehicles and has developed hybrid vehicles, plug-in hybrid vehicles, fuel cell vehicles (FCVs), EVs and others,” said Toyota in its statement. “It has put special focus on FCVs, which, in terms of cruising range, hydrogen fueling times and other aspects, offer convenience on par with that of current petrol-powered vehicles, making them, in TMC’s view, ideal as a form of ‘ultimate eco-car.’”

Still Not Saying Never

At this stage, the EVs from 2020 onward are targeted at specific markets and Toyota says they do not represent a policy shift to compete on equal footing with others in all markets.

Toyota is also capitalizing on reduced battery and other component prices – thanks to ground plowed by others – and says it’s just for now positioning itself to do more to adjust to market requirements.

The 2017 Chevy Bolt EV – pro EV fans are hoping this will be a tipping point. Green car analyst Alan Baum however does not predict more than 21,000 sales for 2017.

The in-house venture capital company responsible for developing EVs announced last Thursday will initially be a small virtual organization.

Set to launch December 2016, it will consist of four people – one each from Toyota Industries, Aisin Seiki, Denso and TMC – and it will be independent of other internal structural organizations

“In the development of EVs, the venture company will draw on the technological knowledge and resources of the Toyota Group,” says the automaker. “Its small organizational structure is meant to enable it to implement unconventional work processes, leading to accelerated project progress and, thus, fast to market products.”

Meanwhile others, including rival Volkswagen – which projects 25 percent of its global products will be plug-in by 2025 – are forging ahead.

Other automakers also have fuel cell vehicles in the works, but antithetical to Toyota, they are the backburner products, and battery power is the emphasis now into next decade.

Biggest hopes may be riding on Tesla to provoke the market, and it has around 400,000 pre-orders for the 2018 Model 3.

What Toyota’s ultimate product assortment will look like from 2020 and beyond is thus only the object of conjecture at this stage.

EV fans who’ve felt strongly Toyota was wrong-headed from the start have in cases made a leap that the latest moves are proof its defiant championing of FCVs is weakening and they will be proven right, as Toyota mends the alleged error of its ways.

And, for all anyone knows, that assessment may be right, but more will need to be seen in a market sure to see more unexpected twists and turns in the years ahead.

]]>http://www.hybridcars.com/is-toyota-rethinking-its-pro-fuel-cell-anti-battery-electric-car-stance/feed/0Want a Chevy Bolt Outside of California and Oregon? Thanks For Your Patiencehttp://www.hybridcars.com/want-a-chevy-bolt-outside-of-california-and-oregon-thanks-for-your-patience/
http://www.hybridcars.com/want-a-chevy-bolt-outside-of-california-and-oregon-thanks-for-your-patience/#commentsFri, 18 Nov 2016 16:06:36 +0000http://www.hybridcars.com/?p=521569General Motors has made public relations hay with its 238-mile Chevy Bolt EV priced under $30,000 after federal credit, but buyers outside of Oregon and California will need patience. According to GM media rep Michelle Malcho, the car will see a “slow flow” to the rest of the country in 2017, and the Wall Street […]

As GM did with the Chevy Volt – which was made to satisfy regulators in California and states that follow its zero-emission rules – the Bolt is given priority in those markets, and for now it’s just the two states mentioned.

“We are focusing on this year getting the cars ready for customers … and doing it the right way,” said Malcho to the Wall Street Journal.

This refrain is a near echo of what was said of the 2016 Chevy Volt last October.

For that car Malcho cited customer satisfaction concerns for the Volt after some stumbling the first time around in 2011. Back then, cars were delayed, and dealers also were less than thrilled with limited or spotty allocations.

Also true, as GM winds down a finite supply of federal tax credits, that perk stands to stay intact longer as plug-in vehicles are sold at a less-than frenetic pace.

What’s more, getting the Bolt out the door this year to California and Oregon lets GM claim it beat Tesla’s Model 3 to market by as much as a year and a half. And, it qualified the car for product awards which it is now garnering.

Meanwhile buyers are sold on the idea of the yet-unvailable Bolt in other states. In California and Oregon, Darin Gesse, marketing product manager, has said they may get their cars “before Christmas” but no promises are made for any other markets.

If you’re interested, Gesse said the majority of orders to date in California and Oregon are for the upper Premier trim, and 90-percent have selected the $750 fast charging option. This option may not be retrofitted after the car has been configured and built. And, incidentally, an illuminated charge port is not yet available, but may be added by the dealer later.

All well and good, and notable also buyers before Dec. 31 may quickly recoup the federal tax credit. Meanwhile dealers in other states are taking lists of names on the car that has not been allocated yet.

]]>http://www.hybridcars.com/want-a-chevy-bolt-outside-of-california-and-oregon-thanks-for-your-patience/feed/0The Netherlands Becomes Sixth Country To Buy 100,000 Plug-in Vehicleshttp://www.hybridcars.com/the-netherlands-becomes-sixth-country-to-buy-100000-plug-in-vehicles/
http://www.hybridcars.com/the-netherlands-becomes-sixth-country-to-buy-100000-plug-in-vehicles/#commentsThu, 17 Nov 2016 16:15:59 +0000http://www.hybridcars.com/?p=521009This month the Netherlands became the sixth country to buy its 100,000th plug-in electrified passenger vehicle. The progressive nation of 17 million people recorded 99,945 units through October, and given its 800-1,500 monthly rate of plug-in hybrid and all-electric vehicle sales, has by now crossed the milestone. A favorite market of Tesla – almost half […]

]]>This month the Netherlands became the sixth country to buy its 100,000th plug-in electrified passenger vehicle.

The progressive nation of 17 million people recorded 99,945 units through October, and given its 800-1,500 monthly rate of plug-in hybrid and all-electric vehicle sales, has by now crossed the milestone.

A favorite market of Tesla – almost half the EVs purchased there are by the California automaker – the Netherlands otherwise has a decided preference for plug-in hybrids.

The cumulative count through October is 86.2 percent gas-electric cars comprised of 86,162 range-extended and plug-in hybrid vehicles, 12,196 all-electric vehicles, and 1,587 all-electric light-duty vans. Counting all types of plug-ins, a total of 101,444 vehicles are on Dutch roads.

The outsized proportion of plug-in hybrids and extended-range EVs is quite the distinction from other markets including Norway which overwhelmingly prefers pure electric cars.

A Sales Peak, Then Slowing

The Netherlands has seen its enthusiastic purchasers rank it as high as number one in the European PEV market. This was in 2015 when it registered 43,971 light-duty plug-in vehicles for a market share of 9.7 percent. That was second only to Norway which saw 22.4 percent sales that year, and which is now over 25 percent.

That 44 percent of this month’s milestone was a blistering pace, but it was artificially stimulated as consumers rushed in the last two months of the year to take advantage of generous government incentives that were ending.

Now with lighter incentives still in place, the plug-in market share is a still-respectable 3.4 percent of new car sales.

For the first 10 months of this year, 10,827 plug-in cars were sold plus 127 electric vans.

Goal Setting

Late last decade, the Dutch government set the objective to have 15,000-20,000 plug-in electrified vehicles with three or more wheels on the road by 2015.

Actually, it’s just one of several more plug-in cars Europeans get that the U.S. does not.

Adding to the list of cars that buyers in the U.S. would like to have, but has been denied to date, is the Volvo V60 Plug-in Hybrid, ranked second at 15,015.

Another desirable but unavailable to the U.S. car, the VW Golf GTE plug-in hybrid is third place with 9,710.

The fourth best-seller is at last a car Americans can buy – indeed they are made here – and this is the Tesla Model S, with 5,681 cumulative sales. The Model X to date accounts for 250 sales, and the two EVs comprise 48.6 percent of the 12,196 EVs sold to date.

Fifth place goes to the Audi A3 e-tron with 5,227 units, and sixth is the Mercedes-Benz C350e, with 5,092.

Sixth To Buy 100,000

The Netherlands was on pace to hit 100,000 sooner, but the reduction in incentives saw it slow its pace, and Norway and France hit the mark sooner this year.

Other countries that have crossed 100,000 are the United States, China, and Japan. And, if California were considered its own country, it would be in the club also, as it is celebrating 250,000 this month.

As it is, the Netherlands has still a healthy uptake per capita and on a market percentage basis, and remains one of the strongest plug-in markets in the world.

]]>http://www.hybridcars.com/the-netherlands-becomes-sixth-country-to-buy-100000-plug-in-vehicles/feed/0Trump’s Election and What it Might Mean for EVs and Fuel-Economy Standardshttp://www.hybridcars.com/trumps-election-and-what-it-might-mean-for-evs-and-fuel-economy-standards/
http://www.hybridcars.com/trumps-election-and-what-it-might-mean-for-evs-and-fuel-economy-standards/#commentsThu, 17 Nov 2016 05:00:13 +0000http://www.hybridcars.com/?p=520369It might be tempting to worry about the future of EVs after the election of Donald Trump to the presidency of the United States last week. According to Bloomberg, that’s because Trump has indicated his administration would ease up on the outgoing Obama administration’s agreement with automakers to increase the fuel-efficiency of the vehicle fleet […]

]]>It might be tempting to worry about the future of EVs after the election of Donald Trump to the presidency of the United States last week.

According to Bloomberg, that’s because Trump has indicated his administration would ease up on the outgoing Obama administration’s agreement with automakers to increase the fuel-efficiency of the vehicle fleet by 2025. That plan, hatched in 2011, has forced automakers to invest in smaller, more fuel-efficient vehicles, as well as plug-in cars, in order to offset the poorer fuel economy of popular trucks and SUVs.

Automakers, represented by the Alliance of Automobile Manufacturers, are already urging the new administration to relax the rules. The current rules – now undergoing a “midterm review” for 2022-2025 model years – are scheduled to be reviewed by the EPA and the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) in 2018, to determine if they need to be tightened, relaxed or left alone.

Automakers argue that in the face of cheaper gas and low demand for EVs, the rules should be relaxed.

Automotive companies also want to make sure that the EPA and NHTSA are “harmonized” when it comes to the rules, to avoid being in compliance with one set of rules but subject to fines for not complying with the other. General Motors cut 2,000 jobs this week due to slowing sales of small cars, noted Bloomberg of an implicit indicator.

The Alliance sent a letter to the Trump administration that read in part “[automakers] may be in compliance with the EPA program, yet subject to fines in the NHTSA program … Potentially billions of dollars in fines under the NHTSA (fuel economy) program are anticipated.”

Automakers did back the rules in 2011, but only if a mid-term review was included.

Others argue that the rules incentivize automakers to build more EVs, something they might not otherwise do, thanks to falling fuel prices at the pump and insatiable consumer appetites for SUVs and pickup trucks. Trucks and SUVs have higher profit margins for automakers than small cars.

While it may seem that a loosening of fuel-economy regulations combined with the high demand (and high profit margins) of trucks and SUVs could be bad news for EVs, Bloomberg says not so fast. Its article suggests that with EVs getting better technology and longer driving ranges, as well as lower prices, sales of EVs are forecast to rise, and automakers such as GM and Tesla remain committed to investing in them.

The article also posits that other global regions will show strong demand for EVs, especially as a way of fighting pollution in urban cores. Finally, Bloomberg reminds readers that one in eight American vehicle registrations are in California, which is allowed to set stricter rules than the federal government does under the Clean Air Act.

What this means, says Bloomberg, is that even if the rules are loosened, any momentum gained toward getting more EVs on the road may slow but it won’t be stopped.

The article adds one more note: The profits from all those trucks and SUVs could be used to fund into research and development of EVs. This is sort of like the idea that Porsche is able to continue building its sports cars thanks to the profits of its SUVs.

Many aspects of an already uncertain future became even murkier after last week’s election, and the impact of Trump’s election on EVs remains to be seen.

]]>http://www.hybridcars.com/trumps-election-and-what-it-might-mean-for-evs-and-fuel-economy-standards/feed/0A Half-Dozen New Plug-in Cars At The 2016 LA Auto Showhttp://www.hybridcars.com/a-half-dozen-interesting-plug-in-cars-at-the-2016-la-auto-show/
http://www.hybridcars.com/a-half-dozen-interesting-plug-in-cars-at-the-2016-la-auto-show/#commentsThu, 17 Nov 2016 00:00:43 +0000http://www.hybridcars.com/?p=520209This year the LA Auto Show has updated its name to AutoMobility LA, and as you’d expect from the traditionally tech-intensive venue, plug-in cars are in attendance. Regulations are driving the global market, some carmakers have made huge forward-looking statements about product assortments to be as high as 25 percent plug-in by 2025, and this […]

]]>This year the LA Auto Show has updated its name to AutoMobility LA, and as you’d expect from the traditionally tech-intensive venue, plug-in cars are in attendance.

Regulations are driving the global market, some carmakers have made huge forward-looking statements about product assortments to be as high as 25 percent plug-in by 2025, and this year’s LA show is just a taste of more to come.

Of course the Bolt EV is at LA, but it’s not in our list as it’s been seen at several shows already. Significant nonetheless, the 238-mile-range EV for $37,495 is now nabbing “best of” and “car of the year” awards, and has gone on sale in California and Oregon with 50-state rollout beginning early next year.

Following are highlights of mostly new models – be they concepts, or models planned, or pre-production examples with new details disclosed.

Mitsubishi eX Concept

We can hear what you think: Woo-hoo! Another all-electic technological showcase from the company that’s delayed its production Outlander plug-in hybrid SUV something like six times to the U.S.

Granted, and the now-updated eX Concept has actually been shown before, but its maker says it “hints to the future,” and that future is much brighter now that Nissan has made Mitsubishi a member of the Renault-Nissan Alliance.

The eX Concept meanwhile dazzles with avante garde technology including artificial intelligence, and an advertised cruising range of “248 miles.”

The vehicle is rated for 94 horsepower (70 kW) to both front and rear wheels for a total output of 188 horsepower (140 kW) of power is otherwise a good portent.

Mini Cooper Countryman S E ALL4

Is a large Mini an oxymoron? Not if you are BMW’s English brand of cute rolling lifestyle statements, and given Americans’ desires for bigger vehicles, the Countryman is its biggest ute to date.

Boasting increased dimensions throughout, and 30-perent more cargo space from the second-generation vehicle, it also has the distinction of being Mini’s first plug-in hybrid.

A 1.5-liter turbo thee-cylinder engine is merged with electric propulsion, a 7.6-kWh battery, and a six-speed auto transmission.

The gasoline engine powers the front wheels, and the electric motor serves the rear wheels. Propulsion energy for the “through the road” all-wheel-drive capability totals to 221 horses and 284 pounds-feet of twisting force – torque.

A top speed of 137 mph sees 0-60 mph along the way at 6.8 seconds.

Yes, but how far can it go in all-electric mode, you may ask? Oh, about 24 miles at up to 77 mph* – with asterisk attached. That estimate is believed to be from Europe where miles (or kilometers) are shorter – or, more accurately, where test procedures are easier going, and thus produce higher range calculations.

Figure maybe 17-20 miles in the U.S.? We shall see.

Jaguar I-Pace All-Electric Crossover SUV

Now here’s an SUV to be taken a bit more seriously – by you, by us, and even by Tesla.

The all-electric I-Pace is a complete rethinking of what a Jaguar-Land Rover SUV can be, and it boasts a substantial 90-kWh battery for 220 miles range.

Jaguar promises to focus on performance from the all-wheel drive vehicle propelled by dual electric motors – one on each axle – with combined output of 400 horsepower and 516 pound-feet of torque.

As such, 0-60 mph is estimated in four seconds, along with fetching good looks.

Sans problematic “falcon wing” doors, the vehicle with English pedigree is said to closely resemble what consumers will see in the brand’s first all-electric crossover.

Jaguar says a 50 kW DC fast charger can zap the I-Pace Concept to fully charged in two hours.

Hyundai Ioniq Electric

Hyundai benchmarked the Ioniq three-in-one car against the Toyota Prius – which comes in hybrid and plug-in hybrid models, but does not have an all-electric version.

Not a new debut, Hyundai has however quietly upped the pre-production EV’s range to 124 miles instead of 110 previously announced, and this one goes on sale late this year.

First consumers to get it will be in Oklahoma – just kidding! Make that California, the Mecca of the electric car universe, where some regions buy from 5 to almost 10 percent plug-in market share – compare that to 0.8 percent nationwide.

Meaningful stats include a 28-kWh lithium-ion-polymer battery pack, 118 horsepower and 217 pounds-feet of torque for a top speed of 102 mph.

Inside – as true of the Ioniq Hybrid also being launched, and Ioniq Plug-in Hybrid due next year – is contemporary styling and amenities.

Included is a seven-inch touchscreen, Apple CarPlay and Android Auto, and wireless charging for a cellphone. A whole suite of safety systems, including autonomous emergency braking, blind spot detection, rear cross traffic alert, adaptive cruise control and lane keep assist will all be available.

Hyundai plans to make the Ioniq Electric available in all 50 states, though not all dealers are expected to stock it. Any dealer may take an order – a progressive policy by Hyundai – thus Midwesterners, and all others can get it not long after those in the Sunshine state.

Cadillac CT6 PHEV

Also not a first-time showing, the news this year for the flaghship rear-wheel-drive power plug-in hybrid centers around range, price, and availability.

As a beneficiary of technology developed for the Chevy Volt and other electrified vehicles, the CT6 promises a decent 30-miles EV range, goes on sale early next year, and stickers for $76,090 before a $7,500 federal tax credit and potential state incentives.

Two motors propel the new rear-wheel drive electric variable transmission (EVT), which takes power also from a 2.0-liter, turbocharged four-cylinder gasoline engine.

Total output us estimated at 335 horsepower and 432 pounds-feet of torque.

Acceleration is an estimated 0 to 60 mph in 5.2 seconds.

Aside from what’s under the hood, the vehicle comes with the latest in GM’s upscale brand design, resplendent with features and technology and comfort.

It also happens to be targeted for the Chinese market, was first unveiled in Shanghai last year, and is one of the first GM cars being exported back to the U.S.

The non-plug-in CT6 is actually built at the same plant that produces the Chevy Volt – Detroit Hamtramck – and GM is otherwise catering first to the Chinese market with this.

Of course, if one wants another alternative, and one made in GM’s actual home country, one may always opt for a Tesla Model S.

Those start $10,000 less, and are pure electric, but the new Caddy hopes its balance of attributes will win some new fans.

Chrysler Pacifica Hybrid

You can call it a useful and large vehicle, you can call it a hybrid, you can call it energy efficient and a first of its type, but just don’t call it a plug-in hybrid.

Actually, despite the name “Pacifica Hybrid,” that is exactly what the 30-mile-range plug-in hybrid pending U.S. sale is.

Not meant to compromise what conventional siblings in the Pacifica family line offer, the vehicle boasts a powerful hybrid 3.6-liter powertrain. Doing them one better, it merges electric power and a 16-kWh battery under the middle row seats, for an estimated 80 miles per gallon equivalent (MPGe) in city driving.

Its $43,090 starting price is a significant jump above the base conventional Pacifica LX’s $29,590 and thus it’s not the cheapest way to transport families of seven hungry mouths to feed, but its subsidized price is otherwise in line.

The base Pacifica Hybrid Premium, and $46,090 Pacifica Hybrid Platinum specs are roughly comparable to the Pacifica Touring-L and Touring L Plus trim which sell in the mid to upper 30s.

Factoring a $7,500 federal credit, the front-wheel-drive Pacifica Hybrid is thus priced closely on a bottom line basis. What’s more, if buyers qualify for state incentives, they might even drive one home for below the net outlay of conventional nicely equipped stablemates which are already on sale.

And regardless whether the vehicle sells super well, or not, it is important in opening up the plug-in minivan segment.

Plug-in fans have long lamented the lack of larger vehicles, including mainstream priced SUVs, pickup trucks, and minivans – and now at last that latter type is represented by the Pacifica Hybrid.

]]>http://www.hybridcars.com/a-half-dozen-interesting-plug-in-cars-at-the-2016-la-auto-show/feed/0How Hyundai Aims To Get Californians Extra Excited About its Ioniq EVhttp://www.hybridcars.com/how-hyundai-aims-to-get-californians-extra-excited-about-its-ioniq-ev/
http://www.hybridcars.com/how-hyundai-aims-to-get-californians-extra-excited-about-its-ioniq-ev/#commentsWed, 16 Nov 2016 18:20:07 +0000http://www.hybridcars.com/?p=519889When Hyundai’s new Ioniq Electric goes on sale later this year, “millions” of Southern Californians will be exposed to it as it also pilots a new customer friendly leasing experience. How so? Well, the 124-mile-range of the new Korean EV does not exactly challenge the 238-mile Chevy Bolt EV, or pending 215-plus-mile Tesla Model 3, […]

]]>When Hyundai’s new Ioniq Electric goes on sale later this year, “millions” of Southern Californians will be exposed to it as it also pilots a new customer friendly leasing experience.

How so? Well, the 124-mile-range of the new Korean EV does not exactly challenge the 238-mile Chevy Bolt EV, or pending 215-plus-mile Tesla Model 3, but two new marketing programs stand to amplify its appeal.

One of these involves supplying the car for absolutely free to app-wielding Los Angeles area consumers for up to two hours, and the other program announced today is a no-haggle online “Ioniq Unlimited” subscription-based leasing experience.

Hey! Is that the new Hyundai Ioniq electric car? Yep. And you can try it for free. To get started, customers can download WaiveCar’s app for iPhone or Android, find an Ioniq nearby, and book it. WaiveCar unlocks the door remotely, and keys are inside.

This latter deal, while not free, lets customers roll together into one fixed payment unlimited mileage, charging costs – including from home – scheduled maintenance, wear items and all typical purchase fees such as registration.

As for the “free” car, this involves a partnership with Santa Monica and Venice-based WaiveCar that offsets costs by wrapping the shared car with advertising and installing a roof-mounted digital advertising display.

After the initial two-hour jaunt that includes insurance, WaiveCar charges $5.99 per hour if people want to go longer.

A $1,000 deductible helps keep people motivated to treat the free wheels with respect.

Initially WaiveCar and Hyundai plan to have 150 cars in the LA area working with a business model that pays to let people sample the car essentially gratis.

Acceleration numbers are not yet released from Hyundai. Prior reports included 117 horsepower and speed up to 93 mph.

For their customers’ trouble, the 4G enabled digital display may show messages while the car wends its way around town, or while navigating the freeway such as, “This commute would be a lot more comfortable in a Hyundai IONIQ.”

Competitive Edge

The Ioniq Electric is one configuration for the electrified car that will also come in a 58-mpg hybrid version, and plug-in hybrid version next year with an estimated 25-29 miles EV range and spectacular mpg in hybrid mode.

Hyundai saved costs in building a platform that could be leveraged into three different powertrain specs, but EV fans have poked at the range of the electric trim.

A “small hand full” are expected by year’s end in California, though this is no compliance car. While priority is being given to zero-emisison rules states, dealers in all states can order the car of they do not already stock it.

When announced earlier this year, range was at first estimated at 110 miles – just three more than Nissan’s soon-to-be-retired first-generation Leaf, now that it’s seen two upgrades since its 2011 launch.

Hyundai’s engineers have since dug deeper into the Ioniq Electric’s 28-kWh battery usable capacity for an advertised 124 miles range – not at all bad, and sufficient for many – but we’ve seen some say this is still on the low side with 200-and-up miles becoming the new normal.

For its part, Hyundai has countered by saying a lower range has been enough for many EV drivers until now, the smaller battery costs to build are less, it weighs less, and it’s a bit roomier than a Leaf.

That said, according to the director of Hyundai’s eco-vehicles Ahn Byung-ki, an updated Ioniq will be able to travel more than 200 miles by 2018.

Yes, the Chevy Bolt EV is zippy, spacious, longer range and all-new also, but Hyundai promises value in its own right. You also must go through the traditional dealer route to buy the presumably more expensive car, or you could lease the Hyundai and still meet your needs. Or, so goes the idea.

When asked whether the innovative free cars and no-hassle leasing experience were to run interference in the face of longer-range EVs pending, Hyundai Motor America’s Manager of Product Public Relations, Derek Joyce, said no.

The new WaiveCar and Ultimate Buying Experience programs make sense regardless, he said, and are only as represented – to enhance exposure and positive consumer experiences.

Furthermore, while the Ioniq EV hs less range, it’s expected to cost less. Though not announced for the U.S., pricing for the Ioniq EV and the optional new leasing experience will try to position the car competitively compared to what else is on the market, including the new mid-upper 30s 200-milers.

Hyundai Motor America’s Vice President of Marketing Dean Evans also said the Ioniq Unlimited ownership experience is meant simply as a means to maximize customer satisfaction.

“We’re excited to offer Ioniq Unlimited as an innovative, worry-free means of clean, zero-emission vehicle ownership along with our new Ioniq electric vehicle,” said Evans. “This new ownership experience adds to the satisfaction of driving a no-compromise, clean vehicle with unlimited mileage and zero hidden costs. It was time to make clean vehicle ownership easy for everyone.”

Joyce noted the program builds upon how its California-market Tucson Fuel Cell Vehicle was sold – with fuel included. That was done in part because the gaseous hydrogen was not being metered, but the customers liked the experience, and so it’s being extended to the EV.

Not Unlike Tesla’s Experience?

In all, the Ioniq Unlimited package offers a negotiation-free single-payment which Hyundai calls “an entirely new concept in vehicle ownership that eco-focused owners will appreciate.”

Granted, it’s lease only, but like Tesla, the “buying experience” is done online and aims to be painless and stress free for those who prefer this approach. Hyundai customers will be able to select the vehicle from a preferred dealer’s lot, choose a 24 or 36-month term, and preview their all-inclusive payment.

After credit is approved, they go to the dealer and collect their new electric automobile pretty as you please, and implicitly as hassle-free as one might get at a Tesla store.

“Hyundai carefully designed the entire process to be the most transparent, stress-free and enjoyable ownership experience on the market today,” says the company.

As for the WaiveCar–Hyundai partnership, Hyundai is not saying how much it is charging the local car-sharing company for the cars, but it is following a model that’s seen cars like the Chevy Spark EVs in service already.

0 emissions, $0 dollars. What’s not to like?

“We are extremely excited to be working together with Hyundai,” said Zoli Honig, WaiveCar’s CTO & Co-Founder. “Providing low cost, eco-friendly transportation alternatives to consumers is our core mission and offering the Ioniq will accelerate that goal. We believe this partnership will be tremendously beneficial for Hyundai, WaiveCar, our customers, and the environment.”

By the end of 2017, WaiveCar plans to launch locations in three additional cities using 250 more Ioniqs.

For now, these deals are only in California, but given it buys close to half the plug-in cars sold, this should help put the new Ioniq into a brighter limelight even if other long-range EVs threaten to take center stage.

]]>Chrysler has introduced the world’s first plug-in hybrid minivan and its $43,090 starting price including destination nets to $35,590 once a $7,500 federal tax credit is factored.

Two trims – the Premium and $46,090 Platinum – promise part-time all-electric operation of 30 miles from a 16-kWh battery stored under the middle row seats.

Officially the new family haulers’ name is “Pacifica Hybrid” – not plug-in hybrid which is what they really are – because Chrysler did not want to complicate things for the uninitiated among its buyer demographic. The operations of plugging in, and its relation to an all-electric vehicle were believed potentially intimidating to some, and the friendly old term “hybrid” has perceptibly better connotations from a marketing perspective.

As a word to any leery customers Chrysler may be concerned not to fluster, once the 30 more-or-less miles of EV driving run out, the vehicle has a gas engine ready to propel it for up to 530 total miles total range. And, although the vehicle is a “plug-in” type, it can operate as a regular hybrid even without plugging in, though that of course would defeat a big part of the point.

And importantly for those already in the know, the pricing for two relatively well-equipped Pacifica Hybrids means potentially greater attainability for families needing a capacious minivan – a type of vehicle originated by the automaker over 30 years ago.

So while this is Chrysler’s relatively late entry to the plug-in market, it comes bearing gifts that plug-in advocates have repeatedly asked other manufacturers for, but until now their requests have gone unmet.

What’s more, the 30-mile range beats upscale European luxury SUVs that might strain to do more than 14 miles on the U.S. EPA cycle, and even tops established plug-in hybrids closer to the mainstream price level.

The 53-mile electric range Chevy Volt remains unchallenged as the highest range full-range and power plug-in gas-electric car, but the Pacifica – built on a revised platform – otherwise does well on this critical point as it opens a new segment.

Two Trims

Based on the conventional non-hybrid Pacifica – which is the name that retired the former Town and Country – the Pacifica Hybrids are equipped at better and best levels akin to the Pacifica Touring L and Touring L Plus.

Baked in are hybrid-exclusive features such as a smartphone app relaying vehicle information like charge status and scheduling, and charging station locations. An “efficiency coach” helps fine tune more efficient driving.

Priced Within Reach

The absolute base-level non-hybrid Pacifica LX starts at $28,595 plus $995 destination, so the Pacifica Hybrids, while priced relatively in line with competitors, are a premium offering.

Other Pacificas do come closer in price however, including the Pacifica Touring-L, at $34,495, plus $995 destination, and Pacifica Touring-L Plus, at $37,895, plus $995 destination. The premo Pacifica Limited starts at $42,495, plus $995 destination – $400 more than the Pacifica Hybrid and $2,100 less than the Pacifica Hybrid Platinum.

With the $7,500 federal credit – and $1,500 in California or as the case may be with other state incentive programs – the Pacifica Hybrids actually come inline with the upper trim levels closest to their equipment level.

It would thus appear a closer look would be warranted, and meanwhile the advocates out there – you know who you are – may hope this move by Fiat-Chrysler might provoke other automakers to follow with larger plug-in vehicles of their own.